How do you clean the windows?
The dirty little secret about washing windows or glass is that you have to get the dirt "off". Most people get frustrated when cleaning windows because they simply smear the dirt from side to side. Although inside windows are cleaned with a squeegee and towel, exterior windows usually have "layers" of dirt and truly need to be "scrubbed down". Because screens trap dirt and promote mold and mildew, it is virtually impossible to squeegee exterior windows and get the entire window clean and to get the dirt "off".
Instead, we use a commercial window soap that allows us to scrub down not only the glass, but the sills and woodwork as well. It is strong enough to remove the dirt and grime but will not harm even delicate shrubs. We simply rinse away the dirt, rinse down the screen, and allow the window to "sheet" dry. No spots, No streaks. There are other ways to clean windows, but we have found that just like washing your car, nothing short of "scrubbing" can remove the dirt.

Is advance notice required?
DEFINITELY. As a general rule we stay fully booked 7-10 days in advance. In the more popular times of the year ( May and November ) we require as much advance notice as possible.

What happens in case of bad weather?
Before you ask, you may want to check our our Weather page. Mother Nature pays little attention to weather forecasters and although most people would think that we would live and die by the weather forecast, the chances are better than 10 to 1 that they will be "slightly" wrong and at least 7 to 1 that they will be "completely" wrong.

In cases of actual bad weather or rain, we do not allow our service people to work on ladders in bad conditions. As to if the rain affects your clean windows, the answer is no. Generally what happens is a build up of fine dirt that the rain disturbs... thereby making it look like the rain left the glass in a mess.
If rain or a storm does soil your clean windows within 72 hours after they have been cleaned, we will gladly come back for re-service.

What is the process for scheduling an appointment?
We make the process of scheduling easy as possible. When you call, you will be assisted in helping you determine what you would like to have done. All appointments are scheduled 2 hours apart starting at 8am. When you schedule an appointment you will be given a specific day and time of our arrival.

How competitive are your prices?
By focusing our services to only select neighborhoods at specific times during the year, we greatly reduce many of our most expensive operating costs. Reduced travel between appointments and lower advertising costs are reflected in our prices and often times we are actually lower in price than the small 1 man operations with no insurance. In addition, our office is open Monday through Friday to answer your calls.

What should I do before you arrive?
If we are cleaning only the exterior windows, we ask that you unclip the screens from the inside before we arrive. If we are cleaning both interior and exterior, we will unclip the screens and reclip them when finished.
If you are considering having your home Pressure Washed, Give us as much advance notice as possible. Because Pressure Washing will leave a white residue on the glass, you will definitely want to have the house Pressure Washed prior to your window washing.
If you are planning to have your house painted, allow a minimum of 60 days before doing any work on or around the windows.

What if I’m not happy with the service?
Using a well established company can provide both security and comfort. Security in that the service you receive will probably be more than what you expected, and comfort because if you are ever disappointed, you know that any problem will be handled professionally and with priority.


What if I want to clean my own Interior windows?
It is much easier to clean the interior windows once the exterior is free of dirt and grime. If you prefer to clean the interior windows yourself, you will find the task much easier by allowing us to clean the exterior windows first.


Who will be servicing my home?
Many service companies often use temporary help or subcontractors to avoid the taxes and costs associated with full time employees. Many other companies use part time help for peak seasons. Window Works only employs full time, skilled and professional service people. They are clean cut, uniformed and fully insured.  There is little doubt that our employees are the reason we continue to grow when other businesses fail.

Screens
A good Real Estate agent will always recommend removing your screens when selling your home. Fewer things will improve the appearance of your home at such little cost. There are, however, more important considerations.
Screens offer NO security benefits and trap everything from dirt and pollen to auto emissions against the glass and wood. In addition, removing your screens will easily add 1-2 years to the life of the paint on the windows. Accumulated dirt trapped by the screen retains moisture and quickly promotes mold, mildew and eventually wood rot.

More importantly, when aluminum screens oxidize (rust) the mineral deposit migrates to the glass. Window Works will not service neighborhoods where the builder has used aluminum screens. If caught in time, it is possible to remove the hazy buildup from the glass with several applications using a liquid abrasive.
The deposit from fiberglass screens is even more difficult. In fact, it is almost impossible to remove without causing more harm than good. In either case the film or buildup caused by the screen forces the water to "bead" as it does when you wax your car. When the water bead evaporates it leaves behind a high concentration of dried minerals that creates what is better known as a water spot. If left alone the water spots will become permanent.

New Paint
Today’s house paints are designed to be more durable and longer lasting than before. Unfortunately it also takes much longer for these types of paint to thoroughly dry and cure. Paint manufacturers recommend that no work be done around the new paint for at least 60 days.
We agree! Although the chemicals we use are very gentle and would never cause "damage" to new paint, It is important to wait until the paint has thoroughly cured and all surface residue has completely dried.

Storm Windows
Sorry, because of the uncertainty of how long any given job with storm windows may take,  we simply do not service homes with storm windows.

New Customers
Estimates for service can be given over the phone. You can use the pricing schedule to determine an estimate and we will recount your windows once we arrive. There are NO hidden charges, NO add ons, and you will only be charged for the actual number of windows that you are having cleaned.

Stained Glass
As a general rule, Window Works will not clean Stained or Leaded glass windows. Most lead dividers do not react well to any type of cleanser and although they are a wonderful accent to any home, the soft lead construction makes the window incredibly sensitive and a very expensive liability if there is ever a problem.

Paint Scraping
If you are planning on having your house painted, make certain that you agree with the painters to scrape the windows when finished. Most window cleaning companies (Window Works included) will not scrape your windows and those that do can charge as much as several hundred dollars for an average home.

Double Pane "Fog" or Condensation
"Fog" or Condensation is very common in Double Pane windows. It is typically a result of severe weather changes or "settling" of the home. Because the "Fog" is inside the 2 airtight panes of glass which are sealed with rubber or silicone, you are forced to either live with the fog, or replace the window.
Although many people have expressed concern, it must be said that it is nearly impossible for you or anyone else (including window washers) to break the airtight seal that holds together the 2 panes of glass. The odds in fact , are nearly 99 to1 that if a person were to strike the glass hard enough to break the seal, the glass would break long before the seal would.

Heavy or Frail Items
Although our service people will go above and beyond in order to make the service you receive as pleasant and convenient as possible, they are instructed NOT to move and heavy, frail, antique or heirloom type objects in order to clean a window. Please make plans to move any such items prior to our arrival.

Special Tips and Information